STING OPERATION AGAINST SOME JUDGES BY DSS!


The latest and most recent criticism of the APC Government was in respect of the "Sting Operation" against SEVEN alleged corrupt High and Supreme Court judges, by operatives of the Department of Secret Service [DSS], which was adjudged as reckless, barbaric and an abuse of the rule of law against such eminent personalities of high calibre because it was forcibly carried out in the night through the breaking down of doors and barriers, in order to gain entrance into their homes; contrary to Section 37, Fundamental Rights of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Constitution, 1999! First to vehemently condemn the operation was President of the Nigerian Bar Association [NBA], followed by all contracted critics of the opposition party, the Rivers State Governor, who obstructed the operatives from searching a judge's residence, where it was alleged that about $2 million USD was secretly removed to an unknown destination, while he, (the governor), stalled them! The Chief Justice of the Federation diplomatically described the whole episode as "unfortunate and sad ", while former Head of State, Dr. Yakubu Gowon, opined that if due process was not followed, it would amount to a "threat to democracy"! The Nigerian Judicial Council [NJC], which is the disciplinary body of the Judiciary, met for THREE consecutive days before making the following pronouncements! All said and done, what are the implications of regarding some citizens of Nigeria as "sacred cows", while the under privileged down-trodden who bear all the brunt of the society were usually castigated as inconsequential’s? Outside of the constitutional immunity clause, which shields the President, his Vice, State Governors and their deputies, from criminal prosecution, SHOULD ANY NIGERIAN BE PLACED ABOVE THE LAW OF THIS DEMOCRATIC NATION?

According to Wikipedia, a sting operation by the Federal Bureau of Investigations [FBI], in the 1980s, code-named "Operation Greyford unearthed massive corruption in the Cook County Courts in which almost 100 lawyers and judges who were eventually sent to jail, disbarred or suspended for their illegal actions; while one who could not bear the shame (in another operation), committed suicide! It is instructive to inform our readers that sting operation is not limited to members of the BAR and BENCH, but extends to all illegal activities from labour union corruption to drug trafficking, organized crime activity etc. According to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the DSS operatives acted within the frame work of the rule of law because they had well- documented warrants of search and arrest and even when prevented by the sitting governor of Rivers State from carrying out their legitimate duties, they exercised professional restraint to avoid a calamity!

DSS sources also threw more light on the "Sting Operation" as follows:
1. That investigations into allegations of corrupt enrichment and bribe takings by the Judges in question had been on for over six months.
2. That litigants who were solicited for bribes by these suspected Judges co-operated with the operatives by meeting the demands of the Judges who were monitored and evidences in form of videos, phone conversations, banks statement of accounts, and several incriminating evidences including Closed Circuit TV camera footages, were collated against them before the surprise operation of 8/9th October, 2016, was carried out!
3. Some of the accused Judges opened bank accounts in the names of their wives, daughters, sons, etc. for the illicit funds but were exposed through Bank Verification Numbers [BVN], in which pictures of account owners were captured!
4. One particular Judge was alleged to have camouflaged in a funny dress to meet and collect some US dollars bribe from a litigant at a shopping mall without suspecting that he was captured by a CCTV camera lens!
5. Incriminating evidences in forms of bank documents, and monies in local and foreign currencies totalling a sum of over N93 million naira was recovered as evidence against the accused judges during the said operation!
6. Some of them co-operated while others did not, but the good news was that, they were all granted bail in self recognition within 24 hours of the operation and interrogation and were to report back to the investigators at appointed times.
It is very true that these eminent jurists are very important personalities in the society, it is also true that they should be accorded due respect but not at the expense of jeopardising justice and internal security of the masses whose work and sweat pay their salaries!

By Dr 'Tunde Olufon. 08130669886, 08058436756. dvdolufon@gmail.com.

Nigerian executive arm cannot be above the law